My 3 Year Old Has a Sty

Take her to the doctor to be sure that it's only a sty (which is bad enough, I know!). When my daughter was about 1 1/2 or so, she had a problem come up called periorbital cellulitis (basically a skin infection in the eyelid) which is easily treated with a strong antibiotic, but can go on to quickly damage the actual eye if untreated. The cellulitis is actually common in little ones and can come up from them having a small scratch or owie near the eye or on the eyelid (a scratch that we might not even notice). The only symptom that my daughter had when she awakened the morning I noticed it was one eyelid was swollen and reddened, but she seemed to feel fine otherwise.

Not meaning to sound scary or say that your daughter has this, just saying "better safe than sorry" in this case - anything with the eyes is so important to get checked out!
Hope all is well and that your daughter's eye is all better soon!

S.

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I've had stys twice. They were both small and on my lower eyelid, right at the eye. My eye wasn't swollen shut, but there was a red bump. You might want to call your pediatrician and ask. My doctor has a helpline for questions like that. Have you tried tea bags? That always works for me. Take a tea bag, dip it in hot water for a second or two, until it's warm, and press it on her eye. Of course, make sure it isn't burning hot. I ususally wrap mine in a paper towel so I don't have tea dripping down my arm. The tea bag has cleared it up both times over night.

Good luck!

Hi T.,
My daughter has had a "sty" on her eye since last September. The doctor told us to let it work itself out if it is a sty. We put it off for two months and she still has the thing. We finally went to an eye doctor and they said that it was an infection that I think is called Calasion or something like that. They said that warm compress is essentail! Also to wash it with the baby shampoo everyday so that the dirt and oils that are causing the infections will go down. The eye doctor also gave us an ointment so that the infection did not become worse. I definately say take her to an eye doctor if it last more then a few days so you can confirm what it is and treat it quickly. Hope that helps.
T. and Kelsie

Definitely take her to the pediatrician - while a sty itself isn't really a big deal, she is obviously having an allergic reaction to something (stys are caused by allergies to something) and it may need to be lanced if it doesn't go away on its own. Its totally normal for a sty to be big and red and her eye to be partially swollen shut: putting warm cloths on it will help it come to a head and either relased its pus/fluid (I know its gross) or at the very least, soothe it. Call your DR, he or she will know how best to treat it. Just giver her ibprofen in the meantime to decrease the swelling and discomfort.

Hi T.,
A sty is cause by dust, bacteria or allergies. Although a warm compress does help bring out the bacteria you don't want is to pop in her eye. Whatever you do. DO NOT POP IT. Then she'll have the bacteria in her eye. NOT GOOD! Since she is so small you need to take her to the Dr. They could advise you better than anyone.
Good Luck
K. F